Baby hit by bakkie in her bed has died

Baby Princess Khambule has lost her brave battle to survive after she was hit by a bakkie that ploughed into their little shack, hitting her in the head while she was sleeping between her parents.

She died yesterday in the Steve Biko Hospital in Tshwane after fighting for her life since the incident in July. The bakkie came to a halt with its front wheels on her bed.

Princess sustained serious head injuries. At the time Derrick Khambule, her father, said the bumper of the bakkie hit her so hard that he found her at the foot of the bed. The entire shack was ruined and the family had to crawl through a hole to safety.

Her mother, Veronica Khambule said the family is devastated as they had always hoped she would make a turn for the better.

“The hospital called me this morning at 6.45am and said my baby had passed away in the early morning hours. I am in a state and I don’t even know how to explain to you what I feel,” Khambule said. Her daughter would have turned two in December.

“Now we will never hear her say mommy or daddy,” Khambule said. Princess had five operations since the incident. The last was on Thursday last week when the doctors inserted a feeding tube.

“She was out of a coma, but never spoke and she could not move the left side of her little body,” the mother said.

Princess suffered two more blows after she was hit by the bakkie. First, security guards at the local clinic refused her parents entry, saying the emergency section was only for pregnant women. This while they watched as her father frantically tried to resuscitate her.

Her parents then drove to the police station around the corner from the clinic for help, but were told they could not accompany them to the hospital, and also refused to call an ambulance.

They then asked a neighbour to drive them to the Mamelodi Hospital where a doctor realised the extent of her injuries and accompanied them to Steve Biko.

The department of health has since suspended five guards who were on duty that night.

Police spokesperson Sam Shibambo yesterday said the police will add a case of culpable homicide against the driver of the bakkie. He has already been charged with drunken driving.

Gauteng department of health spokesperson Khutso Rabothataz confirmed a security guard has been suspended. “Our heart goes out to them in this difficult time,” he said. – virginiak@citizen.co.za